IN THE MATTER OF Benoît Beaulne - Discipline Hearing

MONTRÉAL, June 20, 2012 /CNW/ - A hearing has been scheduled before a Hearing Panel of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) in the matter of Benoît Beaulne.

The hearing concerns allegations Mr. Beaulne failed to have sufficient knowledge of the features and risks inherent in leveraged exchange-traded funds, such that his investment recommendations regarding these same financial products were unsuitable for two of his retired clients.

The hearing is open to the public, unless the panel orders otherwise. The decision of the panel will be made available at http://www.iiroc.ca.

Documents related to ongoing IIROC enforcement proceedings - including Reasons and Decisions of Hearing Panels - are posted on the IIROC website as they become available. Click here to search and access all IIROC enforcement documents.

Hearing Date:		10:00 a.m., September 12-13, 2012
Location:		Centre Mont-Royal
		2200 Mansfield Street
		Montréal, Québec
		Mansfield 2 Room

Specifically, the allegations are:

1)		Between October 2008 and April 2010, Mr. Beaulne failed to exercise due diligence to ensure his investment recommendations in leveraged exchange-traded funds constituted a suitable investment for two of his clients, given their financial and personal circumstances, and their investment objectives, contrary to IIROC Dealer Member Rule 1300.1(a), (p) and (q);
2)		Between June 2008 and April 2010, Mr. Beaulne failed to exercise due diligence to ensure he had the necessary knowledge of the features and risks inherent in leveraged exchange-traded funds before recommending such an investment to two of his clients, contrary to IIROC Dealer Member Rule 1300.1(a).

IIROC formally initiated the investigation into Mr. Beaulne's conduct in July 2010. The alleged violations occurred when Mr. Beaulne was a Registered Representative with the Montréal branch of Laurentian Bank Securities Inc., an IIROC-regulated firm. Mr. Beaulne is no longer a registrant with an IIROC-regulated firm.

The Notice of Hearing which sets out the allegations is available at http://docs.iiroc.ca/DisplayDocument.aspx?DocumentID=EFF4CACE074A441886CA2FDD56B5D79A&Language=en

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IIROC is the national self-regulatory organization which oversees all investment dealers and trading activity on debt and equity marketplaces in Canada. Created in 2008 through the consolidation of the Investment Dealers Association of Canada and Market Regulation Services Inc., IIROC sets high quality regulatory and investment industry standards, protects investors and strengthens market integrity while maintaining efficient and competitive capital markets.

IIROC carries out its regulatory responsibilities through setting and enforcing rules regarding the proficiency, business and financial conduct of dealer firms and their registered employees and through setting and enforcing market integrity rules regarding trading activity on Canadian equity marketplaces.

IIROC investigates possible misconduct by its member firms and/or individual registrants. It can bring disciplinary proceedings which may result in penalties including fines, suspensions, permanent bars, expulsion from membership, or termination of rights and privileges for individuals and firms.

All information about disciplinary proceedings relating to current and former member firms is available in the Enforcement section of the IIROC website. Background information regarding the qualifications and disciplinary history, if any, of advisors currently employed by IIROC-regulated firms is available free of charge through the IIROC AdvisorReport service. Information on how to make investment dealer, advisor or marketplace-related complaints is available by calling 1.877.442.4322.

Enforcement Contact: 

Carmen Crépin
Vice President, Québec
514 878-2854
[email protected]

Media Contact: 

David Thomas
Director, Public Affairs
416 943-6921
[email protected]